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This Butterscotch Cake is a moist, from-scratch brown sugar cake topped with butterscotch buttercream made with melted butterscotch chips! The cake is covered in more butterscotch chips and totally to die for!
Table of Contents
I have been wanting to share a butterscotch cake for so long, it’s hard to remember when I even made the first version. All I know is that it was several years ago. I wasn’t having the success I wanted with a moist cake that was full of butterscotch flavor, so I held off. Fast forward to now. I went back to the butterscotch cake drawing board and this cake was born! I started with my newest Moist Vanilla Cake and adjusted things from there.
I have several versions of vanilla cake on this site, but my newest one is a favorite for a few reasons. First, I love the texture of it – so soft and more fluffy than some of the others. Another reason is the simplicity of the ingredients and the use of whole eggs, rather than egg whites. It makes it a pretty simple butter-based cake from scratch and I love it!
How to make Butterscotch Cake
For this butterscotch cake, I swapped out the regular white sugar for brown sugar. Brown sugar is what you’re going to find in butterscotch sauce, so it’s what you’ll find in this cake as well. It gives the flavor here and helps make a nice, moist cake.
The other addition is some butterscotch pudding mix, added as just the powder. You could totally leave it out and still enjoy the flavor of this cake, but there’s no doubt that the pudding mix adds some totally awesome flavor! It’s not over-the-top butterscotch flavor, but it’s that warm butterscotch-y flavor that is so wonderful. And when it’s paired with the butterscotch frosting, it’s like taking a bite of heaven!
Speaking of the butterscotch frosting, this is WHERE IT’S AT! Oh em gee. This frosting. I died. So, so good. You seriously won’t want to stop eating it. It’s a classic buttercream made with butter, powdered sugar and some cream or milk, but it’s got the addition of melted butterscotch chips. An entire bag of melted butterscotch chips. 🙂 Oh yes.
When the cake layers and the frosting are made – if you’ve managed to not devour everything already – it’s time to put the cake together. Layer it all together, frost it and then immediately press more butterscotch chips into the sides of the cake. If you wait, the buttercream will form a light crust on the outside and the butterscotch chips won’t stick to the sides anymore. I’d suggest having another full bag (or 2) handy. You probably won’t use them all, but it’d be so sad to run out of them. Not only does the cake look so fun with them all pressed into the sides, they are SO YUMMY! Can you tell I love me some butterscotch?
This might be the most dangerous cake to have come through my kitchen in a while. If there was a fork and the cake nearby, I was eating it. Fortunately my mom was visiting and wanted me to freeze some for her, or I would have eaten entirely too much of this thing. It’s moist, sweet, delicious and totally butterscotch. I’m several months away from my birthday, but at this moment I’m already planning on making this again for that occasion. YUM!!
Watch How To Make It
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Homemade Butterscotch Sauce
Ultimate Butterscotch Cake
- Prep Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes
- Yield: 12-14 slices
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Butterscotch Cake is a moist, from-scratch brown sugar cake topped with butterscotch buttercream made with melted butterscotch chips! The cake is covered in even more butterscotch chips!
Ingredients
Butterscotch Cake
- 2 1/2 cups (325g) all purpose flour
- 3.4 oz butterscotch instant pudding mix
- 3 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup (168g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups (337g) packed light brown sugar
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 4 large eggs
- 1 1/4 cups (300ml) milk
Butterscotch Frosting
- 1 1/4 cups (280g) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 11 oz butterscotch chips, melted
- 6 1/4 cups (719g) powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup (120ml) milk or cream
Additional
- 12–14 oz butterscotch chips, for decorating
Instructions
1. Prepare three 8 inch cake pans with parchment paper circles in the bottom and grease the sides. Preheat oven to 350°F (176°C).
2. Combine the flour, pudding mix, baking powder and salt in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
3. Add the butter, brown sugar and vegetable oil to a large mixer bowl and beat together until light in color and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Do not skimp on the creaming time.
4. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until completely combined and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated.
5. Add half of the dry ingredients to the batter and mix until mostly combined.
6. Add the milk and mix until well combined. The batter will look a little curdled, but that’s ok.
7. Add the remaining dry ingredients and mix until well combined and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to be sure all ingredients are well incorporated. Do not over mix the batter.
8. Divide the batter evenly between the cakes pans and bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs.
9. Remove the cakes from the oven and allow to cool for about 2-3 minutes, then remove to cooling racks to cool completely.
10. To make the butterscotch frosting, add the butter to a large mixer bowl and beat until smooth.
11. Slowly add the melted butterscotch chips and mix until well combined.
12. Add about half of the powdered sugar, the salt and half of the milk or cream and mix until well combined.
13. Add the remaining powdered sugar and mix until smooth.
14. Add the remaining milk or cream as needed to get the right consistency of frosting. Set frosting aside.
15. To put the cake together, use a large serrated knife to remove the domes from the top of the cakes so that they’re flat, if needed. The cakes should be pretty flat already. Place the first cake on a serving plate or a cardboard cake round.
16. Spread about 1 cup of frosting into an even layer on top of the cake.
17. Add the second layer of cake on top of the frosting.
18. Add another cup of frosting on top of the cake and spread into an even layer.
19. Top the cake with the remaining layer and frost the outside of the cake. Refer to my tutorial for frosting a smooth cake, if needed.
20. Press butterscotch chips into the sides of the cake immediately after frosting it.
21. Use the remaining frosting to pipe shells around the border of the cake.
22. Store cake in an airtight carrier. Cake is best when eaten within 3-4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 798
- Sugar: 96.9 g
- Sodium: 461.3 mg
- Fat: 33.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 121.2 g
- Protein: 6.9 g
- Cholesterol: 132 mg
Categories
Enjoy!
Hello could u pls send me a photo of the instant pudding mix that you put in tbis cake pls
Thank you
You can find it here.
Help!! I can’t find instant butterscotch pudding mix, is instant vanilla okay to use?
You can use vanilla but it won’t give you the same flavor.
Hi,
I already love this cake just by looking at it and I want to try it out. But I do not know where to find the butterscotch instant pudding mix. Is it okay if I just use a butterscotch flavoring extract
Or can I make the pudding from scratch and pour it in?
You wouldn’t want to make butterscotch and pour it in, but you could use an extract.
can I make cupcakes with this recipe?
Yes, you can.
I made this at 6inch and 4inch and both perfect! Lovely taste..not made frosting yet but had to taste the sponge haha one is for my birthday tomorrow so I am allowed 😉
Which pan do you use ? Can you please recommend which to use for baking this cake? Also can i use parchment paper instead of greasing the pan?
I use wilton 8 inch pans. And yes, I use parchment paper on the bottom of the pan and spray on the sides.
Thanks I found some. Good luck to you and baby girl. And all of you Gods blessing to all
I have a problem. My son in law who he and my daughter has done so much for me. Moved me to where they are. His birthday is Monday we have been 4 or 5 stores looking for instant butterscotch pudding mix. To make him your butterscotch cake can’t find it any where My daughter brought two boxes yesterday but they were cook and serve. Do you have any suggestions of any kind. I love your recipes. I know by know you probably have your new baby girl. Hope everyone is doing fine
I wish I did have a suggestion, but I don’t. I’m so sorry!
And baby girl has been quite stubborn. She’s coming out tomorrow though!
Is this frosting stiff enough for piping cupcakes? Just a née swirl? I want to try it but I’m worried the melted butterscotch chips might make the consistency on the softer side.
It’s definitely stiff enough. Once the butterscotch chips cool within the frosting, they aren’t “soft” anymore. They firm up.
Why not cake flour?
Sarah, Simply cut the recipe in half. If it still makes more than you need, then make cupcakes out of the remainder of the batter and freeze them for a later date. I own a bakery and I do this all the time.
Lindsey, I can’t wait to try this cake! thanks for sharing!
Hi! Can I sub the butterscotch pudding mix? If yes, with what? We don’t get butterscotch pudding mix where I live and I am DYING to bake this for my birthday 😊
I’m sorry, but I’m not sure of a substitute.
I made this cake for my daughter’s birthday. I used 3- 9 inch pans because it’s what I own. It is beautiful and absolutely delicious. I stuck with the recipe and it came out perfectly. Thank you.
I’m so glad it was a hit!
Can I use this recipe to make cupcakes instead of a full cake?
The recipe mentions to add eggs and mix for the cake mix. We do not need to beat the eggs? Planning to try this recipe.
No, you don’t need to beat the eggs prior to adding them.
I made this cake today and it nearly gave me a heart attack. During the whole cooking time in the oven the cake was rising perfectly and then about 5 minutes before the cooking time done both cakes sunk in the middle. Both layers wers well cooked and I’ve been baking for a long time and I’ve never experienced something like that. However, once both layers were cooled they seemed alright and the flavour and texture of the cake is amazing so this cake recipe is definitely a winner.
I think next time I will substitue the butterscotch pudding mix for a white chocolate pudding mix instead. I’m curious how that would turn out.
Hello Lindsay, I see in some earlier comments, there is a discussion about cake size, would you happen to have a version of this recipe for a smaller cake, you mention a 6 inch size, or even smaller? I want to make just a mini cake for myself, my husband does not care for butterscotch and I really would prefer not to eat an entire large cake on my own. LOL Goodness, I would be roly poly! Thank you!
I’ve been meaning to play around with 6 inch cakes because I’m asked about them a lot, but haven’t had a chance yet. I’m not sure how to adjust. I’m sorry!
Hello Lindsay, no to worry, I am going to attempt to adjust this cake recipe into cupcakes this weekend. Would you like me to let you know how it goes? -Sarah
That’d be great! I hope you enjoy it!
Can you tell me how the cupcakes went ? And did you cut recipe in half?